Principle For Teaching Reading Skills

1. In an integrated course, don’t overlook a specific focus on reading skill.

ESL students who are literate in their own language sometimes are left to their own devices when it comes to learning reading skills. We often assume that they will learn good reading simply by absorption through generous offering of extensive reading opportunities. In reality, there is much to be gained by your focusing on reading skill.

2. Use techniques that are instrisically motivating

One popular and intrinsically motivating approach to reading instruction is the Language Experience Approach(LEA) where students create their own material for reading. Other approaches in which learners are given choices in selecting reading material affer a degree of intrinsic motivation. Another way to enhance intrinsic motives is to offer opportunities for learners to gauge their progress through periodic instructor-initiated assessments and self-assessments.

3. Balance authenticity and readability in choosing texts

Authentic simple texts can either be devised or located in the real world. From ads to labels to reports to essays, text are available that are gramatically and lexically simple. Simplifying an existing potential reading selection may not be necessary. Yet if simplification must be done, it is important to preserve the natural redundancy, humor, wit, and other captivating features of the original material.

4. Encorage the development of reading strategies

5. Include both bottom-up and top-down techniques

6. Follow the SQ3R sequence

Survey: skim the text for an overview of main ideas

Question: the reader asks questions about what he/she wishes to get out of the text

Read: read the text while looking for answers the previously formulated questions